Unbeliveable cynicism and ingratitude. Is that the way we show our appreciation for the company that ran our country for 8 of the last 10 years? I cannot believe this kind of rhetoric is tolerated here. Mods?

Posted on: 2010/11/16 9:43

_________________The doctrine of free will is the invention of the ruling class.

Good prior discussion link, Tom. Much is answered there. In reading that, though, I wonder if there isn't an exception for proprietary chemicals and formulas, so that no public access to the information is allowed? I don't know the answer, but I would bet something is in the law and regs to protect the intellectual property of the company.

Posted on: 2010/11/16 19:10

_________________The doctrine of free will is the invention of the ruling class.

I think your right Jack. the dep and/or relate industrial types may get that data, the general public probably isn't allowed access, which is fine if nothing harmful is happening, but when they are pumping the crap past your well water under extreme pressure, I'd sure as hell like to know what's in it! just wondering, if the pressure they pump it in at is high enough to fracture rock, wouldn't it be able to frackure the concrete casing also? I mean, if it can fracture rock that is up to 2 miles beneath the surface of the earth, that would take some serious pressure. maybe they don't think concrete can crack.back to the topic. I don't care what's in it, I don't want to drink it. I don't want it pumped past my water supply. would the drillers pump it past thier own wells at home? maybe we should ask them

There are companies that are voluntarily disclosing fracking, since there are many federal and state agencies breathing down their neck. They know perfectly well that they are going to have to disclose the "proprietary" formulas, so some companies are voluntarily disclosing the information is a gesture of "goodwill".

Biker it is my understanding that the concrete liner is going in after the fracking process not during. Unless you are talking about something else with the concrete liner thing . . .

I'd like to know how some of these school districts are putting wells on their land and the parents are allowing it. I mean it takes all of five seconds for find video of exploding wells.

As far as Haliburton goes, don't think they release their proprietary fracking formula out of the kindness of their hearts.

They don't have to make it public...and in a sense they don't make it public. What they do is make it available to those who must use the chemicals and by law they are required to disclose anything hazardous that a worker may be exposed to. Its an OSHA thing rather than a EPA or DEP thing.

Regardless, those who "need" to know, know what's in it but I think the specific hazards are irrelevant. The big questions are "can they and are they being used in a safe and responsible manner?" Unfortunately, I think that remains to be seen and nothing will change until there is a negative impact. Never has been a lot of proactive environmental protection.

A list of these chemicals as used in Marcellus shale wells in New York can be seen here:

TomG is right , the MSDS at the worksite or shop where the employees have acess to the information of what they are exposed to while at work "Material Safety Data Sheet" legally must contain the information to anything the employees might come into contact with while on the Job and it's an OSHA regulation. I don't ever remember anything about "trade secrets" entering into this area and i was through this whole thing in the Steel Industry. I started in 1974 and was through the asbestos issue which subsequently gave rise to OSHA creating the MSDS regulations.

This article seems to suggest that fracking fluid contents are not wholely disclosed on the material safety data sheets:

In response to yesterday’s announcement, the EPA said Halliburton still must respond to the subpoena. The agency is seeking very detailed information, such as chemicals in the solutions that might not be found on publicly accessible material safety data sheets; ....

Posted on: 2010/11/24 7:33

_________________The doctrine of free will is the invention of the ruling class.